
Josh Fletcher
Burnout is a growing challenge within strength and conditioning, where long hours, high-performance expectations and demanding environments can place significant physical and emotional strain on coaches. In this second article of a three-part series on coach well-being, Josh Fletcher explores the causes and consequences of burnout through both personal experience and practical guidance. The article explains how chronic stress develops when workplace demands consistently exceed an individual's coping capacity and argues that responsibility for managing stress is shared between coaches and employers. Practical strategies are presented to help coaches identify personal stressors, develop healthier responses, establish meaningful recovery habits and create sustainable boundaries between work and personal life. The article also highlights the important role leaders play in supporting staff well-being by encouraging open conversations, understanding individual needs and creating psychologically safe working environments. Ultimately, the author argues that prioritising coach well-being is essential not only for personal health but also for delivering sustainable high performance and providing the best possible support to athletes.

Josh is a performance coach with 15 years of experience working in elite environments. Josh has worked in Olympic sport, pro sport, Special Forces and F2/F3 motorsport. From burn-out to Olympic medals, bullying to military medals of recognition, redundancies to broken relationships, Josh has experienced it. His business, Career Blueprint, is driven to push for better awareness, support and prioritisation of coach well-being.


